Day 142 – Singapore

June 28th, 2019

We had to get up in the middle of the night to pack and be downstairs at the airport shuttle by 3:30am for our early 6am flight to Singapore.  Everything went smoothly and it was just over 4 hours to get there from Darwin.  Singapore is supposed to have one of the nicest airports in the world and it certainly lived up to that claim.  Singapore is also known for their strict rules and for being one of the cleanest and greenest cities.  We had to read rules before we came so we didn’t accidentally end up in jail for bringing chewing gum or eating a snack while on public transportation.  There are hefty penalties for things like that including not flushing the toilet or spitting.  We got a notice on the plane reminding us that it is ‘death’ for drug trafficking.  I was hoping all my array of various pharmaceuticals I carry for emergencies on our travels would not be scrutinized since they are mostly all in unmarked containers.  Luckily, they were not, and it was actually the nicest and quickest immigration experience I have ever had.  It even came complete with a candy!  

There were a couple rowdy Australians on our flight that I watched drink several glasses of wine before we boarded our 6am flight. I’m not judging them for drinking that early but couldn’t help but notice they were also obnoxious and rude.  They even caused Brendan to roll his eyes, and it takes a lot to make that happen.  I was actually a little worried about them being able to get into Singapore as it is also considered a federal offense entering the county under the influence.  It was weird though because immediately when we stepped off the plane, it was like being transported to another world.  Everything was serene and peaceful.  There was quiet music playing in the background and it was not busy or chaotic.  Everything was pristine, and it seemed like anything less desirable simply vanished!  It felt like there was hardly anyone there, which was interesting since Singapore is a large hub.  I didn’t know if the rowdy group got transformed while passing into this environment or if they got detained, but it was clear there was nothing of that sort here.  Everyone was dressed beautifully, and I was wondering if I could be denied entrance for not looking my best in my hiking pants, Boyce & Sons t-shirt and anti-theft vest loaded down with all my valuables.  Priority #1 – buy a new dress.  

The first stop was the bathroom and that was a lovely cultural experience in itself.  It was like a bathroom you would see in a luxury hotel.  They must have hired really great interior designers/decorators to give it such a nice ambiance.  They had full length stall doors and each stall was labeled for whatever toilet experience you would prefer.  There were regular toilets, toilets with bidets, toilets for the elderly, or a squatting pan with a hose if that is what you are accustomed to.  Before I noticed each stall was labeled, I went in the first open one and saw the pan on the ground with a hose.  I thought now this is interesting…  I thought I left that choice behind in Peru (except they didn’t use hoses there).  Then I realized I had picked the wrong option after I read this sign on the stall “mindful of your step, squatting pan with hose”.  I went ahead and chose just the standard American-type toilet and continued on my way.

The airport was absolutely beautiful with huge waterfalls, trees and gardens. 

The subway is accessible right from the airport so we got our luggage and went to figure out the system so we could go to our hostel.  I pulled some cash out of the ATM and it dispensed increments of 50-dollar bills.  The machines you use to get your subway ticket don’t take cards and no bill larger than a $10.  I immediately thought ‘okay… as nice as Singapore appears to be, they still have the same problem we have had everywhere when no one ever has change or accepts the bills the ATM gives you’.  No sooner than I had that thought, an airport employee ran up to me with a bag full of money and said, ‘can I make change for you?’.  Ah, they really do have it figured out!

The subway was easy, and we got to our hostel in the “Little India” neighborhood.  This is where you can find cheaper food and accommodations since Singapore is one of the most expensive areas in all of South East Asia.  Apparently Little India is exempt from the ‘clean and green’ movement that Singapore in known for.  I guess being clean and eco-friendly is only in the wealthy areas which seems a little disheartening.  This part of town seemed just as dirty as any major city.  We stored our luggage at the hostel and went out to explore since check in was not until 3pm.  It was very hot and humid.  I wore jeans because I wanted to see some of the temples, and you have to be dressed very modestly to go inside.  Since my beach attire would not be appropriate, jeans were my best option. 

My phone said it was 90 degrees but feels like 102.  When it feels like 102 degrees outside, skinny jeans no me gusta (not my favorite).  We survived in spite of the heat and saw a Hindu and Buddhist temple as well as the outside of a Muslim Mosque in Little India.  I have seen a lot of Catholic Churches in our travels, and this was my first experience of the different religions’ houses of worship.  It was very interesting and almost overwhelming for the eye because they are so elaborate.  I was amazed with all the different cultures walking around together. We saw Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists all on the same street corner waiting for the crosswalk. 

Singapore has four different official languages!  English is one of them, lucky for us.  We explored some of the markets in Little India and found really cheap street food.  We first tried fried dumplings and noodles with chicken.  Brendan’s noodle plate was $1.20.  It was so hot though my appetite was not as big as normal.  All I wanted to do was drink everything that was cold. There are many juice-stands and for just over $1.00 you can get cold juice or tea. It seems like so little money, but it can quickly add up because I wanted to buy something cold to drink every 10 minutes. 

After several hours of walking around, we went back to the hostel to check in and cool off.  After a little break we went back out to explore Arab Street and another area known as the Bugis/Kampong Glam neighborhood.  This is home to the biggest open-air market in Singapore.  We cruised through there and then stumbled into Chinatown where we decided to get dinner from the market. I tried a dish called fried carrot cake.  It was all vegetarian and made with some sort of vegetarian substance from carrots and radishes.  The flavor was really good as it was all the vegetable ingredients stir-fried together with egg and soy sauce.  It was a large plate for about $2.20. 

We spent the rest of the night walking around the neighborhoods which were really cool. 

We went back to the hostel when we couldn’t take the heat anymore and showered.  I bought a dress for tomorrow for $4 and hopefully that will be airier and more comfortable.  Tomorrow we will explore Singapore’s main attraction areas of downtown and see what it’s like being in the ‘cleanest’ metropolis in the world.